?Chapter 362:


    “Melvin!” Gerard’s voice rose sharply, a note of desperation creeping in.


    “They’re divorced now, which means Freya’s officially back on the market,” Melvin said firmly, his tone steady and resolute. “And since she’s single, I’ve got every right to go after her.”


    Gerard gave him a wary look. “My boss wants to patch things up with her.”


    Melvin scoffed, eyes narrowing. “And why exactly should I give a damn?”


    “You know how he is—once he sets his mind on something, he doesn’t back down,” Gerard noted, trying to sound calm, but his voice carried a warning edge. “If you seriously go after Ms. Briggs, he’s got a thousand ways to keep the two of you apart.”


    Melvin’s jaw set stubbornly, his final words ringing with conviction. “I’m not backing down. If your boss has a problem with that, he cane and see me himself.”


    Gerard hesitated, words catching in his throat as Melvin’s retreating figure blended into the shadows of the corridor. The decision loomed heavy over him.


    Melvin, stubborn to the core, was a man of unyielding conviction once his mind was made up.


    Yet, Gerard’s loyalty to his boss tangled him in a knot of indecision. Trapped between the steadfastness of his friend and the authority of his boss, Gerard wrestled with his conflicting emotions.


    After going back and forth in his head a hundred times, he finally yanked out his phone and dialed Kristian’s number.


    His logic was straightforward—since Melvin had no intention of backing down, the only smart move left was to give Kristian a heads-up. This way, there would be no underhanded tactics—just a fair battleground for both of them.


    Meanwhile, Kristian was still holed up in the office, workingte into the night when his phone rang. He was poring over the contract Chaz had signed, his fingers tapping the edge of the document while his brows drew tighter with each line he read. The Briggs Group hadnded a deal that was far too generous—it was a stealpared to their usual contracts.


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    Kristian looked up, eyes narrowing as he locked his gaze on Chaz and Richie, both standing tensely in front of his desk. “Can someone exin to me how this contract even got approved?” he asked, his voice low but sharp, the weight of his stare pressing on them.


    Before either of them could react, the sudden buzz of Kristian’s phone sliced through the tension in the air. He nced at the screen—Gerard’s name shed urgently. With a sense of foreboding, Kristian answered the call. He knew Gerard well enough to understand that a call at thiste hour meant trouble.


    “What’s going on?” Kristian’s voice was tight.


    “Bad news,” Gerard replied, his voice heavy with reluctance.


    Kristian’s irritation simmered. The day had already been marred by a disastrous contract negotiation, and now Gerard’s grave tone added to his growing frustration. “Out with it,” he demanded sharply.


    “Ms. Briggs is out on a date,” Gerard informed after a heavy sigh, his words slow and weighted. For a moment, Kristian was sure he’d misheard. A date? The thought echoed oddly in his mind.


    Despite his disbelief, the question slipped out. “With Trent Seymour?”


    “No.”


    “Then who?” Kristian pressed, his curiosity piqued despite the annoyance.


    “My friend, Melvin Swain.” Gerard’s voice trembled ever so slightly as the name slipped from his lips.


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